There were once four great tribes of carnivore that roamed the Earth...

The Canidae, lead by the Wolves, with Foxes, and Wild Dogs... although the domesticated Dog vies endlessly to be recognized. Something to do with the Wolves feeling the domesticated Dogs, or "Doge", walked away from the tribe to serve humankind. Regardless, the Canidae are the largest by number and widest spread across the Earth, having the greatest overall adaptability physical, mentally, and having the strongest social skills of the the four tribes.

The Felidae, commonly known as the Cats, made up of the Lions, Tigers, Lynx, and so many more, but have no clear Apex of leader of the Tribe. Although Lions and Tigers will argue over it when given chance and cause to do so. They are revered and feared for their power, grace, skill, and killer acumen. They defy domestication, even if their diminutive Domesticated or "House" Cat brethren give the opposite impression. They are found nearly everywhere Canidae can be found, or where Humans are and boast the widest array of sizes and appearances.

Ursidae, the Bears, renowned for their size and strength, powers of survival, and unreal speed despite their size and girth. As Humans continue to ravage the Earth, Bears are also the most vulnerable, with habitat and needed resources continually in danger and in decline. Still they find ways, even as the Mighty Polar Bear folds into the Grizzly Bear, as the Polar bear's domain diminishes into the Grizzly Bear's ranges, to form the Grolar Bear.

The Hyaenidae, or simply Hyena, had their heyday hundreds of thousands even millions of years ago. They blended the strengths of Canidae and Felidae, into an often awkwardly balanced body that granted remarkable durability and endurance with powerful jaws, unmatched by any mammals (out side of Australia) and few Reptiles. Where once there were as many, if not more, kinds of Hyaenidae in the tribe, some monstrously stronger than almost any kind of any other Tribe, only three remain in any great numbers, the Spotted, the Stripped, and the Brown.

Hyena tend to be depicted as something more like a kind of wild dog, a member of the Canidae. Despite the notion that Hyena are more like Felidae, Hyena remain their own tribe and find some pleasure in making Cats struggle or suffer. They are much more proactive about matters of combat or survival than Felidae, and in their native Africa are much more than a match for the Canidae kinds that live there. Although Modern Hyena grow very cautious, even fearful around the stronger Canidae Kinds in the temperate and wintry North. But their ancient nigh overpowered brethren could make easy work of even the also stronger Ancient Wolves and Dogs. But as prey evolved for awareness and endurance, these "super" Hyena were left behind unable to keep pace with the prey they needed to Maintain their size and strength.

Hyena are not all aggressively matriarchal. But Spotted Hyena are to the point that males are literally good for only one thing, procreation. As a result, despite the fact it being more a preference, Hyena are usually depicted as female and/or being androgynous or even hermaphroditic. While the debate on exactly how to do this is only now getting started, one thing is clear of all the Anthropomorphic species, Hyena's are quite nearly the LAST species to have males depicted in any meaningful way.

Male Hyena characters do exist. But they are far and few between. Even I am fully guilty of this. But it seems only Spotted Hyena Males would be a brutally down trodden member of that species/kind. Stripped Hyena are noticeably better treated, even as adults even if the females will still lord over them. Brown Hyenas are even more normal, as far as gender relations would be. And so the depiction of Male Hyena would reflect these realities for each Hyena kind.

This goes into the fact Spotted, Stripped, and Brown Hyena all have very different appearances, but the most commonly depicted is the Spotted Hyena. And the least... the Aardwolf, such a non-occurrence I did not bring them up until now.

The Hyena's are the least understood of the four tribes. They have the most limited range globally. They have the least number of kinds. Of all the up and coming Anthropomorphic/Furry Species, the Hyaenidae are the most deserving of study. They are so far to an odd angle compared to the Canidae, Felidae, and Ursidae, that the Hyaenidae may present some of the most refreshing new faces, even over the Pokemorphs and Digimorphs.

I did consider doing one of Pokemorphs and Digimorphs, Anthropomorphs made from Pokemon and Digimon. But it would require me to go very long into Yokai, Japanese spirit monsters that usually represent some aspect of the world, natural or man-made.

I am really thinking about Paleo Animal, the ancient species like the aforementioned “Super Hyena”, massive beasts the size of a horse and able to bite one in two fairly easily. Dinosaurs my be on the list, but Sharks seem more likely right now. I mean, Sharks? And why are anthro sharks depicted with two ears? Actually now that I dig on it...

Anyway, until I make up my mind... Something a bit short and simple. The Perennial Skunk. From Pepe Le Pew to Sabrina the Skunk to Penance the once extremely common to now quite rare Anthro species that never quite goes away.